The Athletics have decided to skip Tommy Milone's next turn in the rotation, Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group reported Friday.
Milone will start next Friday and Travis Blackley will take his spot in the rotation Saturday.
Milone said he was skipped in the rotation once with the Nationals last July and the rest "made a difference." Browsing his game log, it would appear Milone had a start skipped between July 28 and Aug. 8 of 2011.
The two preceding starts, Milone allowed 10 runs and 12 hits -- albeit with 11 strikeouts and just two walks -- in 6.2 innings combined. He allowed just seven runs in his next five starts, striking out 35 and walking six in 24.1 innings before earning a callup to Washington in September, where he posted a 3.81 ERA and 3.56 FIP.
Milone owned a 3.34 ERA through his first 19 starts but has allowed 16 runs in 19 innings in his three starts since, increasing that mark to 3.91. Milone, 25, is on pace to throw nearly 200 innings compared to last season's career high of 174.1. The Athletics hope the rest can have the same rejuvenating effect this year as it did in 2011, and if they're right, Milone could have a big impact on the AL Wild Card race down the stretch.
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